The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-01
A CONSTANT WOMAN.

ABSTRACT you know as well as l know
that constancy is very fine thing"
"Oh, in the abstract Pm not con-
sidering that at present. But"
"Yes and In the concrete. Reverse
the case now, by way of argument.
Imagine if you yourself were in Cap
tain Lows pace. Suppose that my
charming friend Marion had engaged
herself to you"
ut was not an engagement" broke
In Farmley, sulkily.
"Well. so near it that one may
call il so. But I'll..say an under.
standing, if you shy at the other
term. Suppose. anyway, that you
loved her"
f'I don't believe the fellow ever
loNed her," Farmley again interrupt.
ed.pulling savagely at his mustache.
life had, do you suppose he would
not hve come back in seven years 2"
Mrs Blair tapped him on the arm
with hr fan.
"You are very impertinent
young mn. Twice you have inter-
rupted m. And you wish me to
take an .iterest in your little af-
fairs"
"You are thousand times in the
right, pardonne," murmured Farm
ley, contritely. "The truth is 1 am
completely derIoralized."
II was saying then. suppose that
there had been atenderness between
Marion Dennisoi and you. and that
you had gone awsy and she had not
been able to keepfaithful to you for
a few wears. Would you have
thought constancyin that case far
fetched, finely drawn notion ?"
Farmly chafed silently.
ut is not the same thing" he said
at last. Besides. seven years"
"Oh, it is not? Mrs. Blair threw
herself back, showing all her still
pretty teeth. "Oh, you men; you
are very amusing at times The
truth is, you don't understand any.
thing about fidelity +; it's an unknown
quantity in yourselves Tor no guam.
tity at ally. and you Can never ad.
mire it in the other sex unless you
personally are the object ofit.'
$50 you will not help me with
Miss Dennison ?" Farmley asked,
appealingly.
"Well. I won't say that" Mrs.
Blair responded, getting up and
walking the length of her pretty
drawing room. II like you, and 1
am dearly fond of Marion. 1 think
you are very we'll suited to each 9TH
er, and 1 really should like to see you
married. Still. if the girl will per.
sist in cherishing her love for the
man who took her fancy years ago,
| don't see much that l can say. In
the abstract, l repeat. the sentiment
is admirable and rare, and it does
Marion very great honor"
"Bah! She was only a child when
she met that fellow. Her feeling for
him is a pure chimera, based on a
school girls romantic Illusion"
"Go dress for dinner, my dear boy.
and put on fresh humor before you
appear again." Mrs. Blair admonish-
ed, and left the room.
Mrs. Blair's house was delightful
one to visit, and it was never so de-
Iightful as when her guests. always
we'll chosen with respect to harmony
and sympathy of tastes. were assem-
bled about her own gracious little
person in the large dining room,
whose generous bay window opened
upon the flush of sunset, the long
shadows over the lawn, the glimpse
of a curve of shining river and soft
blue ridge of hills beyond. But this
evening the little company was out
of tune. Marion Dennison looked
pale and grave, Farmley (nice fellow
as he was usually, Mrs. Blair said to
herself, Indignantly was silent and
morose, or only exerted himself out
of courtesy to his hostess.
Really, young people are very
tiresome when they fall in love-"
thought Mrs. Blair. land when are
they not falling in love ?"
"After dinner Mrs Blair gave
Farmly permisson to light his cigar,
and, taking Marion Dennison's arm,
went out upon the gravel walk at the
back of the house, where chairs had
been placed, and Joined him. The
dusk was full of sweet smells of flow
ers and herbage, and there was pale
light abroad. mingling with the fad.
Ing daylight, and eminating from a
yet unrisen moon.
"I wish you would sing some
thing" Mrs. Blair said to the girl.
Marion Dennison sang as no one
else sang. She had low mezzo so